Crunchy Ramen Chicken Salad (Printable Version)

Vibrant mix of cabbage, chicken, and crispy ramen noodles with sweet sesame dressing.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salad

01 - 4 cups shredded green cabbage
02 - 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken, skin removed
03 - 1 cup shredded carrots
04 - 3 scallions, thinly sliced
05 - 0.5 cup sliced almonds, toasted
06 - 1 package (3 oz) instant ramen noodles, chicken-flavored, noodles only, crushed
07 - 0.25 cup fresh cilantro leaves, optional
08 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

→ Dressing

09 - 0.25 cup vegetable oil or toasted sesame oil
10 - 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
11 - 2 tablespoons honey
12 - 1 tablespoon soy sauce
13 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
14 - 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
15 - 1 garlic clove, minced
16 - 0.5 teaspoon kosher salt
17 - 0.25 teaspoon black pepper

# How to Make It:

01 - In a large bowl, combine shredded cabbage, rotisserie chicken, carrots, scallions, toasted almonds, crushed ramen noodles, cilantro if using, and sesame seeds.
02 - In a separate small bowl or jar, whisk together vegetable oil, rice vinegar, honey, soy sauce, toasted sesame oil, ginger, garlic, salt, and pepper until well emulsified.
03 - Pour dressing over salad ingredients and toss thoroughly to ensure all components are evenly coated.
04 - Serve immediately for maximum crunch, or allow to rest for 10 minutes if softer noodles are preferred.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It comes together in twenty minutes with zero cooking, which means no sweating over a stove when you just want to eat something fresh.
  • The ramen noodles stay impossibly crunchy right up until you eat it, giving you that satisfying texture contrast that makes every bite interesting.
  • It's a crowd pleaser that somehow feels lighter than it actually is, so you won't feel guilty having seconds at a potluck.
02 -
  • Don't dress the salad until you're ready to serve it, or the ramen noodles will start getting soft within minutes—the crunch is kind of the whole point here.
  • Fresh ginger and garlic minced right before mixing makes a noticeable difference; pre-minced versions from a jar taste tired by comparison.
03 -
  • Keep the ramen noodles separate until the last moment, even if it means having an extra bowl on your counter—it's the single thing that preserves the crunch everyone loves about this salad.
  • Toast your own sesame seeds and almonds even if it feels like an extra step; the flavor difference is genuinely noticeable and worth the two extra minutes.
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